Creating unique angel baskets for decorating trees

Heavenly ornaments for the Christmas tree.

USE the recycled paper unique basket weaving method to churn out these little rugged angels  for your Christmas tree. Make the small woven cone into a bell by stringing a pair of paper beads as clappers onto the wire on the inside.

Woven paper angels make pretty ornaments too.

Angel ornament

From magazine pages, newspaper and strings

You need:

    2 sheets A4 magazine pages
    1 sheet BizWeek from The Star
    Gold handicraft foil
    White paper
    Thick strings
    Disposable chopstick
    Thin florist wire – 30cm
    PVA & UHU glue
    Scissors and cutter
    Pencil and ruler

Unique basket creating

1. Divide the magazine page into eight equal sections, lengthwise. Cut out two strips.

2. Cut them into half across. Roll up all four pieces into thin straws along the length, with one end wider and the other tapering.

3. Divide and cut the second sheet of magazine page into eight equal long strips.

4. Roll up all the strips into thin straws, with one end wider and the other tapering.

5. Place two short straws over the other pair, to form a cross.

6. Bend one long straw into half, and loop it over the straws on the top. We have created two weavers, A, on the top and B, beneath.

7. Begin to weave by crossing B over to the right straws, and push A, beneath them. Cross weaver A over to the vertical pair of straws at the bottom, and push B under.

8. Cross B over to the left straws, and A under.

9. Spread out all the short straws evenly to form stakes and push them up, into an inverted cone shape. Make sure that the tips of the straws form a circle about 4cm or 5cm in diameter. Continue to twine weavers A and B, on opposite sides of each stake, sandwiching it. When the weavers get shorter, join another straw firmly into the ends and continue.

10. Weave until there is only 1cm left at the end of the stakes. Glue the ends of the weavers onto the inside of the cone. Then bend the stakes inside and glue them.

Making the wings and collar

1. Fold a piece of white paper, 10cm by 5cm, into two.

2. Follow the diagram to draw and cut out the wings. Unfold into a pair of wings.

3. Cut a circle, 6cm wide from the gold handicraft foil. Fold it into two and half it again. Snip across the tip, open up the foil to see a hole formed. This is the collar.

Making the head

1. Cut the BizWeek page into half, lengthwise. The dimensions are about 14cm by 38cm.

2. Fold the edges in towards the centre.

3. Fold it inwards once more. Then glue them together into one strip.

4. Roll one end of the strip over the chopstick. Dot glue at intervals as you roll the strip into a big bead. Glue the end to secure it. Remove the chopstick.

Assembling the angel

1. Bend the wire and push the ends into the middle of the cone, through the gaps in between the weaves. Pull them out of the cone. Adjust the wire so that the two are the same length.

2. Thread in the collar and then the head. Join the ends into a ring.

3. Cut a thin strip from the gold foil, 0.3cm by 30cm, and wind it around the ring, adding glue to the ends and at intervals. (If the ring is too big, twist another circle within it later.)

4. Cut lengths of strings and glue them onto the top of the head with UHU glue. Trim the ends as you wish, but give it a fringe.

5. Cut a small dot from red paper for the mouth, or just use red marker to draw it on the face.

6. Complete the angel by sticking the wings to the back of the body.

See more creative basket on Wickerchina.com.